75 Contronyms (Words with Contradictory Meanings)

The English language includes an interesting category of words and phrases called contronyms (also spelled contranyms, or referred to as autoantonyms) — terms that, depending on context, can have opposite or contradictory meanings. When you use these words, be sure the context clearly identifies which meaning is intended:

1. Apology: A statement of contrition for an action, or a defense of one2. Aught: All, or nothing3. Bill: A payment, or an invoice for payment4. Bolt: To secure, or to flee5. Bound: Heading to a destination, or restrained from movement6. Buckle: To connect, or to break or collapse7. Cleave: To adhere, or to separate8. Clip: To fasten, or detach9. Consult: To offer advice, or to obtain it10. Continue: To keep doing an action, or to suspend an action11. Custom: A common practice, or a special treatment12. Dike: A wall to prevent flooding, or a ditch13. Discursive: Moving in an orderly fashion among topics, or proceeding aimlessly in a discussion14. Dollop: A large amount (British English), or a small amount15. Dust: To add fine particles, or to remove them16. Enjoin: To impose, or to prohibit17. Fast: Quick, or stuck or made stable18. Fine: Excellent, or acceptable or good enough19. Finished: Completed, or ended or destroyed20. First degree: Most severe in the case of a murder charge, or least severe in reference to a burn21. Fix: To repair, or to castrate22. Flog: To promote persistently, or to criticize or beat23. Garnish: To furnish, as with food preparation, or to take away, as with wages24. Give out: To provide, or to stop because of a lack of supply25. Go: To proceed or succeed, or to weaken or fail26. Grade: A degree of slope, or a horizontal line or position27. Handicap: An advantage provided to ensure equality, or a disadvantage that prevents equal achievement28. Help: To assist, or to prevent or (in negative constructions) restrain29. Hold up: To support, or to impede30. Lease: To offer property for rent, or to hold such property31. Left: Remained, or departed32. Let: Allowed, or hindered33. Liege: A feudal lord, or a vassal34. Literally: Actually, or virtually35. Mean: Average or stingy, or excellent36. Model: An exemplar, or a copy37. Off: Deactivated, or activated, as an alarm38. Out: Visible, as with stars showing in the sky, or invisible, in reference to lights39. Out of: Outside, or inside, as in working out of a specific office40. Overlook: To supervise, or to neglect41. Oversight: Monitoring, or failing to oversee42. Peer: A person of the nobility, or an equal43. Presently: Now, or soon44. Put out: Extinguish, or generate45. Puzzle: A problem, or to solve one46. Quantum: Significantly large, or a minuscule part47. Quiddity: Essence, or a trifling point of contention48. Quite: Rather (as a qualifying modifier), or completely49. Ravel: To entangle, or to disentangle50. Refrain: To desist from doing something, or to repeat51. Rent: To purchase use of something, or to sell use52. Rock: An immobile mass of stone or figuratively similar phenomenon, or a shaking or unsettling movement or action53. Sanction: To approve, or to boycott54. Sanguine: Confidently cheerful, or bloodthirsty55. Scan: To peruse, or to glance56. Screen: To present, or to conceal57. Seed: To sow seeds, or to shed or remove them58. Shop: To patronize a business in order to purchase something, or to sell something59. Skin: To cover, or to remove60. Skinned: Covered with skin, or with the skin removed61. Splice: To join, or to separate62. Stakeholder: One who has a stake in an enterprise, or a bystander who holds the stake for those placing a bet63. Strike: To hit, or to miss in an attempt to hit64. Table: To propose (in British English), or to set aside65. Temper: To soften, or to strengthen66. Throw out: To dispose of, or to present for consideration67. Transparent: Invisible, or obvious68. Trim: To decorate, or to remove excess from69. Trip: A journey, or a stumble70. Unbending: Rigid, or relaxing71. Variety: A particular type, or many types72. Wear: To endure, or to deteriorate73. Weather: To withstand, or to wear away74. Wind up: To end, or to start up75. With: Alongside, or against

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